'Teen Wolf': A Summer Surprise on MTV

cable fills in the blanks during the summer hiatus of network programing. all the major networks offer are more mindless reality programs. duh! 

last year's nicest surprise was usa's 'covert affairs. this year, at least as of now, it is 'teen wolf'. i didn't know mtv had it in them. if you like 'the vampire diaries' you should enjoy this. based on a michael j fox film it is fun, witty and has a retty good cast of newcomers. give it a go. you may enjoy yourself.

'Midnight in Paris' ***star Charmer

woody creates magic in paris. at the stroke of midnight one man (owen wilson) magically escapes a demanding fiancee and her parents and enters a world of the greatest writers of the past in the paris of the 1920's. the scenes in the past which are the majority of scenes so outshine the present day episodes. in the past woody allen brings his latest film to life. in the present day scenes you want the film to fast forward to the past again. happily it does. 

owen wilson is surprisingly charming as gil the want to be novelist. adrien brody shines as salvador dali. kathy bates portrays a delightful and so human gertrude stein. corey stoll all but steals the whole thing as ernest hemingway and should get a supporting actor nom come oscar time. rachel mcadams as gil's fiancee inez is a horror. this actress has just not lived up to her post 'the notebook' potential. she alone was utterly miscast. mimi kennedy as her mother is just plain annoying throughout. but have no fear.....

marion cotillard comes along as adriana the woman in the past. charming, delightful, scene stealer. she continues to light up the screen with every film she is in. as the film returns to a 'golden age' so does the presence of ms. cotillard remind us of the past wonders of film and the potential for the present and past. i am madly in love with marion. unashamedly in love with her. oscar nom? i hope so.

woody allen in his golden years is better than he was when younger. since 'match point' in london, 'vicki christina barcelona' in spain and now paris he is amazing me. oscar nom for pic and director is a possibility. i can't wait for his next film filming in rome. sadly ms. cotillard is not among the cast. see...i am in love with her.

trailer

Happy Birthday Johnny

Happy Birthday Julianna

Nurse Jackee

We're Invited to the Wedding of the Year

'Sondheim: The Birthday Celebration'

How the hell did i miss this one. well now i own it on blu ray. a glorious birthday bash for stephen sondheim. hosted and written by an hilarious david hyde pierce it's a delightful romp for him. the artists sing the 'singable' sonheim songs fot the most part. okay let's be honest here: not all of sondheim is singable. the biggies are sung by the best assortment of diva's assembled in one place in a long long time. lupone, peters, mcdonald, strich, murphy, mazzie and benanti: it gets no better. throw in mandt patinkin, michael cerveris and george hearn and the world is momentarily blissful and at peace. bravo to all of them and the brilliant arrangements and conducting of paul gemigani and the mighty new york philharmonic. who could ask for more.

***********

bernadette peters and mandy patinkin: "move on'

patti lupone: 'the ladies who lunch'

donna murphy: 'could i leave you'

*****************

 

curtain call

First Look: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes''

'The Ringer' Coming to the CW This Fall

'ringer'. sarah michellr gellar in 'ringer'. bette davis in 'dead ringer'. sarah michelle gellar pulling off a bette davis role? i probably think not!

Gruesome Twosome

Bridesmaids' ***stars

anyone who has followed my blog knows that comedic films are not my thing. so kicking and screaming, figuratively, i went with my friends this weekend. i had the best time. perhaps part of it was the company of friends. but mostly it was in the end the film. bathroom humor abounded literally in fact. the lines were funny, the sight gags hysterical. i was surprised. happily. i can really recommend this flick although i may be the last person who saw it as it's been doing blockbuster business. i assure this will not start a trend. i will not go see 'hangover 2' as the first was was as dumb as gw bush.

so there are some comedy surprises still coming out of hollywood every decade or so.

June Blu Ray Releases

You Just Gotta Love Those Republicans

Barbra for Memorial Day: 'America the Beautiful'*

have a good memorial day and for god's sake remember what it is for and what it means.

*this is for you adam. you changed my mind about the military because of your service.

'Criminal Minds' Mends It's Criminal Behavior

this past season 'criminal minds dropped aj cook and paget brewster from the long running series. a big mistake. with aj gone at the beginning of last season the series lost it's center and heart. dropping ms. paget halfway through the series the series lost it's feminine guts. ms. cook showed up in the series finale pathing her way to return next season. ms. brewster was just resigned this weekend. i hope both of them demanded a lot of cash. although the series remained a hit this past season the loss of these two actresses diminished both content and drama. for once a network listened to viewer protest.

i can now look forward to this series as 'must see tv'

the boring aj want to be has been let go. thank god.

'Revenge' with Emily Van Camp

the show i am most looking forward to this fall. emily van camp is the lead. enough said.

connor paolo under utilized on 'gossip girl' costars along with madeliene stowe and henry czerny

In Plain Sight' and 'Law and Order Criminal Intent' Have Started Their Summer Runs on USA

happily Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are back in their original roles. Sadly this final season is only eight episodes long. maybe good ratings will change the minds of the powers that be. a really good addition this time around is julia ormand as the psychiatrist goren is forced to see to remain in his job. this could go so so far if the series is extended. so far damn good.

as season finales end on the networks usa brings 'in plain sight' back to fill the void. this season lives up to it's past three seasons with the amazing mary mccormick as the tough yet vulnerable mary shannon. why is this woman constantly ignored come emmy time? if you are not watching this show you are missing an intelligent adult drama. treat yourself.

 mary and costar frederick weller

'Company' Coming Soon to a Movie Theatre Near You...Hopefully

a grand experiment is about to take place. movie theaters showing broadway and theater specials. i'm counting on my gay followers in particular to catch this 5 showings only treat. if we want more we have to support the effort. it makes it or breaks it on our loyalty. hey patti lupone singing 'the ladies who lunch' is worth the entrance fee. this begins mid june. check the website cited in the first video below for a theater near you.

the amazing grand dame of musical theater

Chris Meloni Turns in His Shield

time to say goodbye. chris meloni will not return to 'svu' next season. with mariska hargity leaving mid season this law and order spinoff is dead in the water. the constancy of these two leads is what made it work. 'svu' is no loner 'must see tv'. it was a fun good run. now i say r.i.p. your days are numbered.

Thank You Paul Ryan

New York Special Election: Medicare Will Be Issue Of 2012

the democrat won district 26 in new york a truly republican seat. so i thank you

mr. ryan and your medicare killing budget. i have never been more proud of a gop-er in my life.